FELCH, Mich. (WZMQ) – Herbie Lantz, a lifelong U.P. resident, is celebrating his 100th birthday, a milestone he will share with family and friends at the Felch Community Center tomorrow. Born in Felch when Model T cars were the height of automotive technology, Lantz has witnessed nearly a century of change and history.
At 17, with his parents’ consent, Lantz walked from his hometown to Escanaba to enlist in the Navy during World War II, joining his brothers who were already serving. “I had to have my mother and dad sign for me because my brothers were in the Navy also, so I wanted to go in the Navy,” he recalls. Assigned to the U.S.S. Pensacola, Lantz participated in 7 of the ship’s 13 battles, including the fierce fight at Iwo Jima. “One of the main ones was Iwo Jima, which was a very tough one, but we survived… Most of us survived through it all,” Lantz remembers. “We got hit in World War II, though. We got torpedoed from a submarine.”
Lantz speaks with pride about witnessing the iconic raising of the American flag during the battle of Iwo Jima. “In Iwo Jima, yes, that was interesting to see. It was at a distance, kind of, but it was enjoyable. Especially, the American flag, you know,” he shares. His role on the Pensacola was significant; he served in the gunnery division, manning 8-inch guns capable of firing 15 miles over the horizon. “I was on the Pensacola. It was a cruiser. I was in the gunnery division. So I was a gun mate 8-inch guns that could fire over the horizon 15 miles,” Lantz explained.
His service took him across the Pacific Ocean, starting with Pearl Harbor. “Oh yes, that’s where I went first on a troop ship, and I was there, I think it was three months before I got assigned to the Pensacola,” he notes. Reflecting on his military experience, Lantz acknowledges the challenges he faced. “In service, it was kind of tough, but I survived it,” he says. “It’s a lot different from when I went in the service.”
After the war, Lantz worked in various locations, including mines like the Groveland Mine, and in cities like Chicago and Detroit, seeking employment wherever he could find it. “Yeah, I worked in the mines for 18 years, and I was in Chicago at times and Detroit wherever I could get work. There was no work around here. It’s such a small place,” he says.
Lantz’s life has been marked by notable achievements beyond his military service. He’s a family man, and an accomplished guitarist and vocalist. In 2009, he took a flight on the U.P. Honor Flight, and at the age of 91, he graduated from high school with North Dickinson County School’s class of 2016, a ceremony attended by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. “I had 6 [children]. I lost 2. I don’t like to talk too much about that,” he shared.
Despite the passage of time, Lantz continues to enjoy the simple pleasures of country life. “I love the country life, though being out here, I can take my scooter and go way back. Roads all over this country. Here we reminisce a little, you know,” he says. His advice to fellow Upper Peninsula residents is simple yet profound: “Well, live a healthy, happy life. That’s the main thing. Get to see what you can see and all over the U.P. I’ve been to a lot of places over the years. I was on the Ore boats one time on the Great Lakes. That was interesting,” he remarked.
As his centennial celebration approaches, Lantz looks forward to the gathering of family and friends. “There’s quite a few of them coming for that,” he says with a smile. “That should be fun.” Indeed, Herbie Lantz’s life, filled with resilience, adventure, and community, serves as an inspiration to all who know him.
